exploring a sober friendly sin city

Sober on Mother’s Day: What I want to tell my daughter about alcohol

In honor of my first mother’s day as an actual mother, I’ve been thinking about the conversation I’ll have with my little one when she gets older about alcohol.

As I’ve said before–this is based on my experience.

I have many friends who are able to moderate their alcohol consumption and/or it doesn’t have a negative effect on their wellbeing–it’s just that for me that wasn’t the case.

I’m sure I’ll gain new insights over the years to follow, but these are a few things I feel like I’ll want to say:

Your inner voice is your most important moral compass, and alcohol can make it difficult to hear.

Despite what marketing says to mothers, I don’t need rosé, merlot, or margaritas because of you. I may need a nap (!), but you didn’t drive me to drink.

Alcohol didn’t make my life better or more exciting, it didn’t make me more interesting or more fun.

Depression tells us the lie that we are worthless and alcohol only makes it harder to see the truth–that you are beautiful and you are worthy of love.

You can form deep bonds with others without alcohol.

Anxiety is part of much of the make up of modern life. Let’s work together to find healthy ways to cope with it.

If you decide you want to try alcoholic beverages, it doesn’t mean I will love you less. You are going to become an adult that needs to make her own decisions, but I will say this–ask yourself WHY you are drinking. And be brutally honest. If you don’t like the answer, don’t drink.